Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 498: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the detail of all permanent Civil Service or non-established positions which are in place in his Department with regard to assisting Ministers with constituency work; the monthly salaries for these positions; and if any further appointments are envisaged. [9132/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Government introduced new arrangements in staffing support for Ministers and Ministers of State in line with the Programme for Government aim to introduce political reform. This has delivered a reduction of 25% in the permitted staffing of Minister's offices and 33% for Ministers of State.

I have detailed below the number of permanent Civil Service and non-established positions which assist both myself and Minister McEntee with constituency work:-

Minister, Simon Coveney

Minister of State, Shane McEntee

It is expected that one further appointment will be made in both constituency offices shortly.